CB Spencer on sideline as 49ers finally have success

On the second day of training camp, 49ers cornerback Shawntae Spencer pulled his hamstring, an injury that foreshadowed what’s so far been a forgettable season for the eight-year veteran.

Spencer re-aggravated his hamstring injury later in camp and was limited early in the season. In Week 3, he debuted as the No. 3 cornerback against the Bengals, but suffered a toe injury the following week against the Eagles and has since become a forgotten man.

After starting all 32 games the past two seasons, Spencer, now healthy, was inactive in last week’s win against the Redskins. It marked the first time in his 72-start career that he was inactive when he was healthy enough to play.

Spencer said he’s sought out former teammates Nate Clements and Michael Lewis for counsel this season. Clements, with the Bengals, and Lewis, who is retired, both dealt with demotions during their careers. In some ways, Spencer’s lack of playing time seems somewhat cruel. After waiting seven non-playoff years for a taste of success, he’s been a largely a spectator during the Niners’ 7-1 start.

I spoke with Spencer on Thursday about his season:

Q: Obviously, you have a much different role this season. What has it been like?

SS: Well, like you just said, it’s different. I started a lot of games in the previous seven years. It’s different. It’s one of those things where a new staff comes in, I got injured in training camp, they didn’t get a chance to evaluate me, the guys they had out there are performing well and they’re winning. So that’s pretty much it.

Q: Do you just have to prepare each week as if your opportunity could come in the next game?

SS: I approach every season, every game, the same way. Prepare. You never know what will happen. You’re always one or two plays away from being out there. So you prepare like you’re playing and if you don’t, you can always look back and say you were prepared. If you do, that’s a bonus because you’ll perform well. That’s just part of being a professional, whether you’re in the starting lineup or working towards that, you still have to prepare the same. For me, I still enjoy the playing the game. And it’s about improving my individual game. Right now, that’s all I can do is just focus on that.

Q: You finally got over your hamstring injury and then hurt your toe. How frustrating have the injuries been for you?

SS: I don’t get frustrated too much. It’s part of the game. I think everyone here knows that. But it’s just the difficult part for me, like I said, this is the first time since I’ve been here that I haven’t been on the field. It takes some getting used to, but I just keep working toward the goals that I set for myself and just improving each day as an overall player and go from there. That’s all I can control.

Q: How is your toe now?

SS: I’m fine.

Q: You weren’t active against the Redskins. Did you see that coming?

SS: Pretty much, yeah, I saw that coming. Like I said, it’s different. It’s a different spot for me. I’ve never not been on the field at any time during my career, but it happens. I’ve seen it happen to a lot of friends of mine, guys I’ve played with. I lean on them a lot. I still talk to (former 49ers cornerback) Nate Clements a lot. He went through it one year here. (Former 49ers safety) Michael Lewis. I know he went through it in Philadelphia and here. So, it’s pretty much what you make of it — you’re attitude and how you approach it. After that, it is what is.

Q: You’ve been through a lot of losing here during your career. Is it hard to watch from the sideline as the team is finally having success?

SS: It’s different. I try to just look at it as far the guys who have been here through the 2-14, 4-12, 5-11 – so on and so forth. It’s good to see them experience a winning atmosphere. So that’s how I take it.